Work Life

When Rami Batarseh purchased a run-down building on River Road four years ago, he had no vision of what it would become. As an investment opportunity, the building, a former chicken slaughterhouse and circus animal-housing facility (dating back to the 1800s), needed a revamp. Today, it’s the home of Fulton Crossing, an artisan center with more than 23 studios, 35 artists, a large main gallery with three showrooms and two warehouses featuring the work of many local Sonoma County artists.

A handmade pie is a love letter in the restaurant world. Hours spent making and proofing dough, slow-simmering sweet and savory ingredients and constant experimentation for the next big flavor combination makes for tiring work. It’s a niche business that requires passion and stamina, and the ladies at The Whole Pie exemplify that attitude in spades.

Mother Nature did much to step up harvest season this year. Warm weather in late August and early September combined with heat spikes led to an early harvest. As a result, 90 percent of the grapes were harvested before the fires.

When Troy and Connie Newton moved into their new home on Viewpointe Circle a year-and-a-half ago with their young son, Ryder, they knew right away they were settling into a special place. The neighbors dropped by with gifts and cards, and they were invited to monthly gatherings. “This is a neighborhood that looks out for each other,” says Troy, a detective and member of the SWAT team with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

On a cool autumn day during harvest, John Jordan, chief executive officer of Jordan Vineyard & Winery, steps away from meetings with staff at the winery to talk politics. Not with the Jordan staff, or family and friends, because when it comes to his personal life, he has no interest in debating politics. Instead, Jordan takes the stairs to his second-floor office, where he prepares to talk live on Fox News.

Take a Bite! When Tracy Mattson started COOKIE... take a bite! five years ago, she wanted to share a bit of

happiness with people, one cookie at a time. “It was important to demonstrate to my son that with hard work and determination, you can do anything you put your mind to,” says Mattson. “Plus, who doesn’t love a good cookie?" Starting out at local farmers markets in the North Bay, the popularity quickly grew, winning several GOLD and DOUBLE GOLD medals from the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

While Americans consume roughly 12 pounds of chocolate each year, the benefit, unlike the chocolate, shouldn’t be in the dark. Yes, dark chocolate may be good for your teeth, and may even prevent cavities.

Instead of reaching for a cup of joe first thing in the morning, start your day with a glass of lemon water. Here are seven reasons you should consider making this a habit, according to the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, located in Ohio.

The North Bay is a hot spot for activities with man’s best friend. Whether it’s stand up paddle boarding, dog swim days in Spring Lake or an off-the-leash beach, you and your canine companion are sure to have a panting good time. Here are some local activities that are dog friendly.

Enjoy an outdoor concert experience with Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Under the Stars, located in the open-air ruins of Jack London State Historic Park this summer. “It’s hard to imagine summer in Sonoma without Broadway Under the Stars,” says Amy Miller, artistic director for Transcendence.

"Youth is our future and if we connect them to the power of community service we help them discover their capacity for leadership and help create a much happier community."—Cathryn Couch, Ceres Community Project

In this Issue

On October 8, Loren Davis, fire chief at Mountain Volunteer Fire Department in Sonoma County, was sitting at a poker table at Graton Casino in Rohnert Park at around 9:30 p.m. when his pager went off....

Located at 3565 Airway Dr. in Santa Rosa, NorthBay biz magazine is a monthly business-to-business publication covering Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties. This year, the magazine is celebrating 42 years of continuous operation. It originally hit the stands in 1975, when it was called Sonoma Business, and only covered Sonoma County. Its current owners, Norm and Joni Rosinski and John Dennis, acquired it in 2000 and changed its name to cover an expanded market. More here..